Digital reconstruction for Art History in Grote Kerk Naarden

Students digitizing the barrel vault of Grote Kerk Naarden. (c) Rafael Smit.

In the last week of August, Grote Kerk Naarden transformed into a digital ArtLab. A team of twelve young researchers from different Dutch universities worked together to create a digital 3D model of the barrel vault of the church. This project marks the start of the 2.5 year restoration of the Grote Kerk, and will make the paintings on the vault accessible to both researchers and the general public. It is the first time that a 3D model of this scale will be used in an art historical research project in the Netherlands.

Students at work in the vault. (c) Rafael Smit.

This vault, which was fully painted in the 16^th century, is a unique artwork in the Netherlands. The identity of the artist behind the paintings is unknown, and although evidence suggests that painted barrel vaults were relatively common in the late medieval Low Countries, the barrel vault in Naarden is one of the few that still survive. Today, the paintings in the vault are in a fragile condition. This necessitates a 2.5 year long restoration project, during which the vaults will not be visible to the public. The digitized version of the vault makes it possible to still see the paintings whilst they are in restoration. It also allows the vaults to be studied in great detail and will provide a valuable source for conservators and researchers.

Dr. Carlos Bayod (Factum Foundation) instructing the students. (c) Rafael Smit.

Do you want to know more about this project? Please do not hesitate to contact us.

This Summer School was hosted by the National Research School Art History of the Netherlands and was organized by Dr. Sanne Frequin and Dr. Daantje Meuwissen (Utrecht University) in collaboration with the international experts of Factum Foundation and Grote Kerk Naarden.

During the Summer School several Dutch national and local media show cased the project:

• NOS 8 uur Journaal
• OVT NPO Radio 1
• Radio 1 journaal
• Gooi en Eemlander (newspaper)
• NH Nieuws
• De nacht van… (Radio 1) 

This short render is created by Summer School patricipant Sjors Nab. It shows the first results of the digitization process. The removal of the color information shows detail on the grain of the wood and the different layers of paint.